Is dihydrotestosterone a cause of follicular atresia?
Dihydrotestosterone, a non-aromatizable androgen has been hypothesized to arrest follicular growth. The concentration of androgens in the prepubertal, adult and pregnant mammals leads one to presume that high levels of estrogens cause follicular growth and ovulation while increase in DHT results in follicular atresia. However, DHT probably has no definitive role to play during lactation and menopause. In polycystic ovarian syndrome, inhibition of normal follicular growth may be due to increased DHT secretion.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010060:Ovulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012741:Sexual Maturation
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone